General News
29 September, 2025
Suspicious blaze destroys Portsmith paint business
A SUSPICIOUS fire has gutted Wholesale Paint Cairns in Portsmith overnight, with emergency services working for hours to bring the blaze under control.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said multiple urban and rural
crews were called to the Aumuller Street business about 2.25 am today (29
September).
“On arrival, there was thick, black smoke issuing from the factory and the
commercial structure was fully involved in fire,” a QFES spokeswoman said.
Firefighters managed to contain the blaze before it spread to nearby buildings.
“Crews were able to stop the fire from spreading, and it was contained to the one
premises without impacting nearby structures,” the spokeswoman said.
The fire was brought under control by 3.50 am and was mainly extinguished,
however, crews remained on site until late morning.
“The fire was under control by 3.50 am and mostly extinguished, with firefighters
remaining on scene through the morning to dampen down hotspots,” she said.
“Crews carried out atmospheric monitoring to ensure the area was safe before leaving the scene in the hands of Queensland Police.”
Police declared a Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) at 2.40 am, establishing an
exclusion zone that encompassed Ray Jones Drive, from Buchan Street to Lyons
Street, and Aumuller Street, from Kenny Street to Tingera Street.
The PSPA was lifted at 6 am. No one was injured in the incident.
A crime scene has since been established, with Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch
(CIB) detectives treating the fire as suspicious.
Police are urging anyone with information or relevant vision of the blaze to come
forward.
